Armrest, in particular for an office chair

ABSTRACT

An armrest, in particular for an office chair or the like, includes an armrest support and an armrest column which is height adjustable on the armrest support. Those types of armrests are known in multiple realizations from the prior art. In order to provide an armrest which is constructed in a particularly simple manner, it is proposed that the armrest column have an actuating element, which is connected to it in an integral manner, for altering the height position of the armrest column.

The invention relates to an armrest, in particular for an office chair or the like, having an armrest support and having an armrest column which is height adjustable on the armrest support. These types of armrests are known in multiple realizations from the prior art.

A disadvantage in the case of many of said known armrests is that comparatively elaborate and time-consuming structural solutions are used for the height adjustment. This does not just result in comparatively high material and production costs. As a plurality of individual parts often have to be connected together in an elaborate and time-consuming manner, this also leads to relatively high assembly costs.

One object of the present invention is to provide an armrest which is designed in a particularly simple manner in order, as a result, to reduce both the material and production costs and the assembly costs without having to do without the usual functionality.

Said object is achieved by an armrest according to claim 1. Advantageous realizations of the invention are provided in the sub-claims.

Accordingly, the armrest according to the invention is characterized in that the armrest column comprises an actuating element, which is connected to it in an integral manner, for altering the height position of the armrest column. As a result, an armrest which is designed in a particularly simple manner is created where both the material and production costs and the assembly costs are reduced compared to conventional solutions without having to do without the usual functionality, such as height adjustment.

The actuating element is preferably a pushbutton, that is to say an element which is operable by means of pressure and which actuates the height adjusting means, preferably by the actuating element releasing or blocking a locking mechanism in a direct or indirect manner. In other words, the actuating element is operatively connected in a direct or indirect manner to an operating element which is essential to the functioning of the height adjusting means, in particular the triggering of the height adjustment, such as, for example, to a locking bar of a multi-position locking mechanism.

The armrest according to the invention in its embodiments is distinguished, as is described in more detail below, above all by three things, firstly—as many operating elements as possible are realized in a combined, preferably integral manner, as a result of which the overall number of required components is very low, secondly—said components are able to be produced in a simple and cost-efficient manner as a result of said integral design, for example as a result of a plastics material injection moulding method or the like, and thirdly—all the components are realized in a very assembly-friendly manner, in particular in such a manner that the armrest is preferably able to be completely installed without using any screws. All this contributes to a clear reduction in material, production and assembly costs compared to conventional armrests.

If the actuating element is incorporated into one of the side surfaces of the armrest column, it is not only producing both parts simultaneously in a very simple manner that is made possible. A particularly elegant, flat armrest column is also produced without any actuating elements which protrude, project out of the armrest column or stand away from the armrest column.

This can be realized in a particularly simple manner when the actuating element is realized as a type of pushbutton in the form of a two-armed lever which is connected to adjacent side surface parts thereby realizing the lever pivot point.

The connection between the actuating element and the armrest column serves at the same time in other words as a pivot point of the lever such that no additional components are necessary for this purpose.

One realization, where the connection to the armrest column is effected by means of two oppositely situated points on the lever longitudinal edges, has proved to be particularly suitable, preferably by means of material webs allowed to remain from the manufacturing of the armrest column such that the armrest column and the actuating element are once again connected together in an integral manner. A realization where the actuating element is connected by means of material webs is also consequently advantageous because the placing of the material webs and, as a result, the defining of the length of the lever arms of the actuating element is freely selectable independently of other structural constraints.

If the armrest comprises an arm support mounted on the armrest column so as to be length adjustable, it is thus a further idea of the invention to provide the armrest with a multifunctional connecting element which is preferably connected in an integral manner to the one end of the armrest column, carries the arm support, guides it when the length thereof is adjusted and fixes it in its respective adjustment position.

One embodiment of the invention where the connecting element comprises a substantially U-shaped cross section which serves for receiving and guiding the arm support has proved to be exceedingly advantageous. If guide rails which, in the mounted state, engage in corresponding guide grooves which are provided on the arm support, preferably on the outside surface, in particular on the outside longitudinal sides of the arm support, are mounted on the U-portions of the connecting element, preferably on the free ends of said U-portion, this then does not serve for just holding and guiding the arm support. At the same time, as a result a captive connection can be produced in a structurally simple manner between the arm support and the connecting element.

If, in one embodiment of the invention, the guide grooves are realized open at one end, a particularly simple assembly of the arm support on the connecting element is possible, as the arm support with its guide grooves has only then to be pushed onto the guide rails of the connecting element. The guide groves are then preferably realized in a closed manner at the opposite end such that it is only possible to push the arm support on from one end and consequently it can be carried out in a more error-proof manner. It is particularly advantageous when a pull-out safety device is provided at the same time, preventing the arm support, once mounted, from being separated unintentionally from the connecting element.

In one embodiment of the invention, an alignment locking mechanism, which prevents the connecting element from being removed out of the guide grooves when the arm support is moved in the longitudinal direction, is realized for this purpose in one of the open end regions of at least one of the guide grooves. To this end, the alignment locking mechanism comprises a blocking means which is preferably realized in an integral manner with the arm support, is advantageously self-cushioning and projects in such a manner into the one guide groove that it is pressed out of the guide groove when the arm support is first mounted and then returns automatically into its initial position blocking the guide groove in the opposite direction. No separate components are consequently necessary here either for providing the pull-out safety device.

To realize the length adjustment of the arm support, i.e. an adjustment of the arm support in the longitudinal direction of the arm support, which usually corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the chair, the connecting element comprises a latching lug, which is connected to the U-base preferably in an integral manner and, in the mounted state, realizes a latching locking mechanism, preferably a shear latching locking mechanism with frictional engagement, which engages in latching recesses which are provided on the bottom surface of the arm support. The preferably self-cushioning latching lug serves, in this case, as a latching blocking means and the latching recesses serve as latching grooves which define a number of latching positions arranged in the longitudinal direction of the arm support. The non-positive locking mechanism produced as a result at both ends simply creates increased resistance against the movement in the latching positions, which can be overcome by a correspondingly increased force. The arm support is consequently situated in the relevant positions—the neutral position or the latching position—by way of a movement effected with moderate force. The latching lug, in this case, is preferably formed in such a manner that the U-base of the connecting element comprises at said point a bulge or another suitable deformation which points in the corresponding direction such that an additional component serving as a latching lug is not required.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the arm support includes an arm support carrier and an arm support cushion which is arranged on the arm support carrier. In this case, the arm support cushion covers at least one transverse surface of the arm support carrier at least in part. It is particularly advantageous when the arm support cushion covers the arm support carrier on at least one transverse surface of the arm support up to the bottom edge of said arm support carrier. If the arm support cushion covers the front transverse surface of the arm support when viewed in the longitudinal direction, a padded and as a result particularly grippy contact region for the fingers of the occupant of the chair is produced. This allows the arm support to be longitudinally adjusted in a very comfortable manner. In addition, said contact region is positioned at an angle that is advantageous for force transmission onto the arm support such that, proceeding from the initial position which is defined by the frontmost position of the armrest and moving rearwards, a particularly small amount of force is required for a length adjustment.

The grip and manageability of the arm support, above all with regard to the length adjustment in the opposite direction, is increased when the arm support cushion also covers the arm support carrier on the opposite transverse surface of the arm support and/or on the longitudinal sides of the arm support so far as is allowed by the guide grooves for the connecting element.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below by way of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an outside side view of an armrest from the left,

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the armrest from the right, sectioned in the sheet plane (AA) (vertical section through the armrest column and arm support),

FIG. 3 shows a view of the armrest sectioned along the line BB (vertical section through the armrest column and the arm support),

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the method of operation of the locking bar device for height adjustment,

FIG. 5 shows a view of the armrest sectioned along the line CC (vertical section through the arm support) and

FIG. 6 shows a view of the armrest sectioned along the line DD (horizontal section through the arm support).

None of the Figures show the invention true to scale, they are purely schematic representations and only show their essential component parts. The same references, in this case, correspond to elements with the same or comparable function.

The armrest 1 for an office chair is constructed from comparatively few components. The armrest 1 comprises, among other things, an armrest support 2, an armrest column 3 which is arranged on the armrest support 2 so as to be height adjustable and is realized in the manner of a sleeve and an arm support 4 which is mounted on the armrest column 3 so as to be length adjustable. A horizontal leg 6 which is integrally moulded on the vertical leg 5 of the armrest support 2 serves for fastening the armrest 1 to the base of the office chair.

A connecting element 7 is mounted in an integral manner on the top end of the armrest column 3. The connecting element 7 carries the arm support 4, guides the arm support 4 during its length adjustment and fixes it in its respective adjustment position. The connecting element 7 includes a substantially U-shaped cross section which serves for receiving and guiding the arm rest 4. Guide rails 9, which, in the mounted state, engage in corresponding guide grooves 12 which are provided on the outside longitudinal sides 11 of the arm support 4, are mounted on the free ends of the U-portion 8 of the connecting element 7. The guide grooves 12 are realized open at one end, namely, when viewed in the longitudinal direction 13 of the arm support which is identical to the longitudinal direction of the chair, toward the rear. To mount the arm support 4, it simply has to be pushed with its guide grooves 12 onto the guide rails 9 of the connecting element 7. The guide grooves 12 are realized in a closed manner at the opposite end, that is to say toward the front.

An alignment blocking means, which prevents the connecting element 7 from being removed out of the guide grooves 12 when the arm support 4 is moved in the longitudinal direction 13, is realized in the two open end regions 14 of the guide grooves 12. Said pull-out safety device is realized by blocking means 15 which project into the guide groove 12 and which, when the arm support 4 is first mounted, are pressed out of the guide groove 12 and then automatically return into their initial position blocking the guide groove 12 in the opposite direction.

To realize the adjusting of the arm support 4 in the longitudinal direction 13, the connecting element 7 comprises a self-cushioning latching lug 17 which is connected in an integral manner to the U-base 16, is defined by a bulge of the U-base 16 and, in the mounted state, realizes a shear latching locking mechanism which engages in latching recesses 19 which are provided on the bottom surface 18 of the arm support 4. The latching recesses 19 define a number of latching positions which are arranged in the longitudinal direction 13 of the arm support 4.

The arm support 4 includes an arm support carrier 21 and an arm support cushion 22 which is arranged on the arm support carrier 21. The arm support cushion 22 covers the front transverse surface 23 of the arm support 4, when viewed in the longitudinal direction 13, up to the bottom edge 24 of the arm rest carrier 21.

The armrest column 3 comprises an actuating element 26 which is connected thereto in an integral manner for altering the height position of the armrest column 3. The actuating element 26 is incorporated into the column front side 27, in other words into the front side surface of the armrest column 3. The actuating element 26, in this case, is realized as a two-armed lever which is connected to adjacent side surface parts 29 of the armrest column 3, thereby realizing the lever pivot point 28 which is shown in a symbolic manner in the Figures. The connecting of the actuating element 26 to the armrest column 3 is effected in an integral manner by means of two material webs 31 at oppositely situated points on the lever longitudinal edges 32. The material strength and material characteristics of the material webs 31 are realized such that they make it possible in a reliable manner for the lever 26 to be deflected at a sufficient pivot angle for a sufficient number of repeat actions over the service life of the armrest 1.

The top lever arm 33, which points in the direction of the arm support 4, comprises on its outside surface a surface structuring 34 in the form of some ribs. Said structuring 34 serves, on the one hand, for feeling for the actuating surface 35 of the lever arm 34 in a blind manner. On the other hand, it results in improved operability of the actuating element 26. The actuating element 26 is placed in such a manner in the armrest column 3 that the position of the top lever arm 33 easily enables one-handed operation of the height adjustment even when a hand is placed on the arm support 4.

If pressure is exerted by a user on the actuating surface 34 of the actuating element 26 in an actuating direction 36 which points perpendicularly to the actuating surface 34, the top lever arm 33 pivots inward against the pressure of a spring element 37 which is shown purely in a symbolic manner, i.e. into the interior of the armrest column 3, the pivoting movement 39 being defined by a stop member 38 which is also only shown in a symbolic manner.

To adjust the height, recesses 42, which serve for realizing a multi-point locking mechanism, are provided arranged one above another in the displacement direction 41 on the armrest support 2, the recesses 42 being open in the direction of the column front side 27. A locking bar 44, which is mounted on the free end of the bottom lever arm 43, engages in one of said recesses 42. If the top lever arm 33 then pivots inward, the bottom lever arm 43 pivots outward at the same time, i.e. out of the side surface of the armrest column 3. As a result, the locking bar 34 is also pivoted out of the respective recess 42, the locking mechanism is released and the armrest column 3 is able to be height adjusted. If the actuating element 26 is no longer actuated, no more pressure is therefore exerted onto the actuating surface 35, the locking bar 44 engages afresh in a corresponding recess 42 and the height of the armrest column 3 is fixed.

The lengths of the lever arms 33, 43 of the actuating element 26 differ, the lever lengths being adapted to the requirements for secure and reliable actuation of the height adjustment. In an advantageous manner, the top lever arm 33 is shorter than the bottom lever arm m 43.

The invention is not restricted to an arm support that is exclusively length-adjustable but is also transferable in principle to such armrests where the arm support thereof is additionally transversely adjustable.

All the features shown in the description, the following claims and the drawing can be essential to the invention both individually and together in arbitrary combination.

LIST OF REFERENCES

1 Armrest

2 Armrest support

3 Armrest column

4 Arm support

5 Vertical leg

6 Horizontal leg

7 Connecting element

8 U-shaped portion

9 Guide rail

10 (blank)

11 Arm support longitudinal side

12 Guide groove

13 Longitudinal direction

14 Open end region

15 Blocking means

16 U-shaped base

17 Latching lug

18 Arm support bottom surface

19 Latching recess

20 (blank)

21 Arm support carrier

22 Arm support cushion

23 Front transverse surface

24 Bottom edge

25 (blank)

26 Actuating element, lever

27 Column front side

28 Lever pivot point

29 Side surface part

30 (blank)

31 Material web

32 Lever longitudinal edge

33 Top lever arm

34 Surface structure, rib

35 Actuating surface

36 Actuating direction

37 Spring element

38 Stop

39 Pivoting movement

40 (blank)

41 Displacement direction

42 Recess

43 Bottom lever arm

44 Locking bar 

1-9. (canceled)
 10. An armrest for a chair, the armrest comprising: an armrest support; and a height-adjustable armrest column disposed on said armrest support, said armrest column having side surfaces, adjacent side surface parts and an actuating element for altering a height position of said armrest column; said actuating element being part of one of said side surfaces, being a two-armed lever having longitudinal lever edges, and being connected to said adjacent side surface parts at two oppositely situated points on said longitudinal lever edges to define a lever pivot point.
 11. The armrest according to claim 10, wherein said actuating element is connected to said side surface parts in an integral manner by material webs.
 12. The armrest according to claim 10, which further comprises: a multi-position locking mechanism having a recess formed therein; said actuating element having a top lever arm and a bottom lever arm; an actuating surface provided on said top lever arm; and a locking bar provided on said bottom lever arm, said locking bar moving out of said recess upon actuating said actuating surface and freeing a height adjustment.
 13. The armrest according to claim 10, which further comprises: an arm support being mounted for length adjustment on said armrest column; and a connecting element being integrally mounted on one end of said armrest column, said connecting element carrying said arm support, guiding said arm support in its length adjustment and fixing said arm support in a respective adjustment position.
 14. The armrest according to claim 13, wherein said connecting element has a substantially U-shaped cross section for receiving and guiding said arm support.
 15. The armrest according to claim 14, wherein: said connecting element has U-shaped portions; said arm support has guide grooves formed thereon; and guide rails engage in said guide grooves and are mounted on said U-shaped portions in a mounted state.
 16. The armrest according to claim 15, wherein said guide grooves have one open end at an open end region, and an alignment locking mechanism is provided in said open end region of at least one of said guide grooves.
 17. The armrest according to claim 13, wherein: said arm support has a longitudinal direction and a bottom surface with latching recesses formed therein; and said connecting element includes a latching lug forming a latching locking mechanism in a mounted state engaging in said latching recesses and defining a plurality of latching positions disposed in said longitudinal direction.
 18. The armrest according to claim 17, wherein said arm support has a U-shaped base to which said latching lug is integrally connected.
 19. The armrest according to claim 13, wherein: said arm support includes: an arm support carrier having at least one transverse surface, and an arm support cushion disposed on said arm support carrier and at least partly covering said at least one transverse surface.
 20. The armrest according to claim 10, wherein the chair is an office chair. 